When they deliver you over, do not be anxious how you are to speak or what you are to say, for what you are to say will be given to you in that hour.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jesus isn't just telling them not to worry about what to say, but also how to say it – the specific words, the tone, the very way they present their defense will be divinely provided. This isn't about recalling pre-written speeches, but about receiving the exact right communication for that precise, often terrifying, moment.
When they deliver you over, do not be anxious how you are to speak or what you are to say, for what you are to say will be given to you in that hour.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jesus is commissioning his twelve disciples for their first mission, sending them out to proclaim that the Kingdom of Heaven has come near. He warns them that they will face persecution, being handed over to authorities and even persecuted by their own people. This instruction about what to say in the face of opposition is meant to comfort them and assure them of divine help.
When you're in a tight spot, is your first instinct to frantically plan what to say? Jesus offers a different approach.
Jesus tells his disciples not to be anxious about how or what to speak when they are brought before authorities. This isn't a call to be unprepared, but a promise of divine assistance. The original Greek word translated as 'take no thought' is the same one Jesus uses elsewhere to warn against worry. It highlights a deliberate release of anxious care. Instead of relying on their own wit or rehearsed speeches, they were to trust that the Holy Spirit would provide the words needed in that exact moment. This was especially crucial for uneducated fishermen facing powerful leaders.
Ever felt like God just put the right words on your heart? That's the kind of help Jesus promised.
The promise, 'it shall be given you in that hour what ye shall speak,' points to the direct work of the Holy Spirit. It wasn't about recalling memorized verses or crafting eloquent arguments. The Spirit would suggest or inspire the precise words needed for that moment of defense. This divine prompting ensured that the message was not just spoken, but spoken with the power and wisdom from God Himself. It's a powerful reminder that our witness is not solely dependent on our natural abilities, but on God's empowering presence.
Understand the original words
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merimnaō · Greek Verb
A feeling of unease, distress, or apprehension regarding future events; the Bible often commands against this in favor of trust in God’s sovereignty.
This promise of divine guidance in speech was crucial for the early disciples, ordinary men facing intimidating authorities. It highlights a pattern of supernatural empowerment that sustained the apostles through intense persecution and fueled the rapid spread of the gospel.
c. AD 30— this verse
Jesus commissions the Twelve
Jesus sends out his disciples, the Twelve Apostles, to preach the gospel and perform miracles, equipping them with instructions on how to behave and what to expect.
c. AD 30-33
Early Ministry of the Apostles
Following Jesus' ascension, the apostles begin their ministry, facing initial opposition and persecution as prophesied by Jesus.
c. AD 33
Peter and John before the Sanhedrin
After healing a man at the temple, Peter and John are arrested and brought before the Jewish ruling council (the Sanhedrin). They boldly proclaim Jesus, fulfilling Jesus' promise of inspired speech.
c. AD 34
Stephen's Martyrdom
Stephen, one of the early deacons, is stoned to death after delivering a powerful speech before the same Sanhedrin, demonstrating the divine assistance promised by Jesus.
c. AD 35
Saul's Persecution
Saul (later Paul) actively persecutes the early church, arresting Christians and bringing them to trial, but he himself would later experience a dramatic encounter with Christ that transforms his mission.
c. AD 40s-60s
Paul's Missionary Journeys
The Apostle Paul travels extensively, preaching the gospel and frequently facing opposition, imprisonment, and trials before various Roman authorities.
This passage directly parallels Matthew 10:19, instructing the disciples not to worry about their defense when brought before synagogues and authorities, as the Holy Spirit will prompt them.
Acts 4:8Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, boldly answers the Sanhedrin, demonstrating the fulfillment of Jesus' promise that divine wisdom would be given in moments of trial.
Acts 6:10Stephen, a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit, speaks with such wisdom and power before the council that they could not stand against him, showing the Spirit's enablement in defense of the faith.
1 Corinthians 2:10This passage explains that just as God reveals His deep truths to us through His Spirit, He would also give the disciples the words to speak when facing opposition.
Jeremiah 1:7Similar to the disciples, Jeremiah was told not to fear or be anxious about what to say when facing opposition, as God promised to put His words in his mouth.
vincentMatthew 10:19: "But when they deliver you up, take no thought how or what ye shall speak: for it shall be given you in that same hour what ye shall speak."
Take no thought (μὴ μεριμνήσητε)Rev., Be not anxious. See on Matthew 6:25.In that hour (ἐν ἐκείνῃ τῇ ὥρᾳ)Very precise. "In that selfsame hour." Bengel remarks: "Even though not before. Many feel most strongly their spiritual power when the hour comes to impart it to others."
bensonMatthew 10:19: "But when they deliver you up, take no thought how or what ye shall speak: for it shall be given you in that same hour what ye shall speak."
Matthew 10:19 . But take no thought how or what ye shall speak — When you are compelled to appear before such personages be not anxiously careful about your defence there, or how you shall answer for yourselves, but cheerfully confide in the divine direction, which shall certainly be given you, and shall be abundantly sufficient for you. The…
Jesus isn't just telling them not to worry about what to say, but also how to say it – the specific words, the tone, the very way they present their defense will be divinely provided. This isn't about recalling pre-written speeches, but about receiving the exact right communication for that precise, often terrifying, moment.
Jesus is commissioning his twelve disciples for their first mission, sending them out to proclaim that the Kingdom of Heaven has come near. He warns them that they will face persecution, being handed over to authorities and even persecuted by their own people. This instruction about what to say in the face of opposition is meant to comfort them and assure them of divine help.
Jesus is commissioning his twelve disciples for their first mission, sending them out to proclaim that the Kingdom of Heaven has come near. He warns them that they will face persecution, being handed over to authorities and even persecuted by their own people. This instruction about what to say in the face of opposition is meant to comfort them and assure them of divine help.
"When they deliver you over, do not be anxious how you are to speak or what you are to say, for what you are to say will be given to you in that hour." — Jesus isn't just telling them not to worry about what to say, but also how to say it – the specific words, the tone, the very way they present their defense will be divinely provided. This isn't…
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Last reviewed October 2026